The Wisconsin judge arrested on Friday morning for obstructing immigration enforcement has dedicated much of her legal career to representing low-income individuals and marginalized communities.
Federal authorities took Judge Hannah C. Dugan from the Milwaukee County Circuit Court into custody, suspecting she “deliberately misled federal agents” who were pursuing an immigrant. Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director, shared this information on social media, stating that earlier this month, Judge Dugan guided an undocumented immigrant through a side door in her courtroom while agents waited in a public hallway for his apprehension.
On Friday, a statement from Judge Dugan’s representatives asserted that she “will defend herself vigorously and anticipates her exoneration.” The statement indicated she has engaged a former federal prosecutor for her defense and “has upheld the rule of law and due process principles throughout her career as a lawyer and judge.”
Known for her progressive efforts in Milwaukee, Judge Dugan won her election in 2016 by a significant margin, defeating an incumbent appointed by former Republican Governor Scott Walker. She ran unopposed during her re-election in 2022, with her current term set to end in 2028.
In 2023, she dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin, which claimed that a get-out-the-vote initiative in Milwaukee was illegal.
Judge Dugan, 65, graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1987 and subsequently joined Legal Action of Wisconsin, offering free legal services. Her legal practice focused on housing, public benefits, and Social Security, and she coordinated the organization’s pro bono attorney program from 1990 to 1994, as noted on her LinkedIn profile.
Later, she served as the executive director for Catholic Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin and has been a member of the Milwaukee County Ethics Board.
As a Legal Aid attorney, Judge Dugan represented indigent clients. In 1995, she defended individuals against bans on panhandling in downtown areas, arguing that such prohibitions were unconstitutional.
In 2000, she contended that the increased issuance of tickets for “quality-of-life” offenses constituted intimidation.
“Anecdotally, my clients express reluctance to go to court, let alone to trial, due to intimidation from officers,” she stated in an interview with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We have noticed a rise in complaints regarding harassment and abuse.”
Judge Dugan faced a judicial electoral defeat in 2012. During that campaign, she declared herself nonpartisan and committed to impartiality, as reported by the Journal Sentinel.
“Achieving justice is challenging work. Everyone understands that,” she remarked.
Julius Kim, a Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer who has long been acquainted with Judge Dugan, noted her reputation for advocating for underrepresented individuals within the justice system.
“Social justice cases are especially important to her,” he stated. “That said, she is not seen as any kind of pushover in the courthouse; she takes her responsibilities as a judge very seriously.”
In 2021, Judge Dugan was a finalist for the “Most Trusted Public Official” in The Shepherd Express’s Best of Milwaukee contest.
In an article she authored that year on the history of women in Wisconsin’s legal field, Judge Dugan shared her “passion project” of photographing herself outside every courthouse in the state.
Local officials in Milwaukee expressed their disapproval of her arrest.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson stated that “this sends a chilling message to others involved in our judicial processes here in Milwaukee.”
“A lack of participation in the judicial process compromises the safety of our community,” he added.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley commented that Judge Dugan “is entitled to her constitutional rights regarding due process.”
“Nonetheless, it is evident that the F.B.I. is politicizing this incident to exemplify how they treat individuals who resist their challenges to the judicial system and immigration regulations,” he remarked.
On Friday afternoon, numerous individuals congregated outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee to protest Judge Dugan’s arrest. Some viewed it as an assault on the judiciary by the Trump administration, holding signs that read “Hands off our judges.”
“If we don’t take a stand now, we may lose our opportunity,” stated Jenica Wolski, 37, a graphic designer from Wauwatosa. “We are rapidly descending into authoritarianism; it’s alarming.”
Dan Simmons and Robert Chiarito contributed reporting from Milwaukee.